Main entry:

Mulcahy, Rosemarie.

Title & Author:

The decoration of the royal basilica of El Escorial / Rosemarie Mulcahy.

Publication:

Cambridge [England] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1994.

Description:

xvi, 258 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 248-255) and index.
1. The Paintings for the Low Altars. pt. I. The Spanish Contribution: Juan Fernandez de Navarrete "el Mudo," Alonso Sanchez Coello, Luis de Carvajal, and Diego de Urbina. pt. II. The Italian Contribution: Luca Cambiaso and Pellegrino Tibaldi -- 2. A Matter of Iconography: Philip II's Rejection of El Greco's Martyrdom of St. Maurice and the Theban Legion -- 3. The Choir Frescoes: Luca Cambiaso and Romulo Cincinato -- 4. The Reliquary Altars and Federico Zuccaro -- 5. The Sagrario Frescoes and Pellegrino Tibaldi -- 6. The High Altarpiece. pt. I. The Paintings and the Painters. pt. II. The Sculpture and the Leoni Workshop -- 7. The Entierros: The Funerary Monuments and Pompeo Leoni -- Appendix I Note on the Use of the Term Basilica -- Appendix II Key to the Location of Painting and Sculpture in the Basilica.

Summary:

The Decoration of the Royal Basilica of El Escorial examines one of the most important creative endeavors of late sixteenth-century Spain, and indeed, Europe as a whole. Conceived as a mausoleum for the Spanish Habsburgs, designed as both monastery and palace, the Escorial was closely supervised by King Philip II.
The basilica itself was the spiritual center of this royal foundation and the king wished it to exemplify the spirit of the Counter-Reformation through observance of new decrees relating to Church ritual and religious imagery. The body of artworks commissioned by Philip II for it was unique in volume, scale, and coherence. On the basis of the extensive documentation related to this unusual structure, Rosemarie Mulcahy provides the first thorough reconstruction of the king's grand design for the basilica, whose altarpieces, murals, and sculptures form a seamless iconographic program.
Among the painters who were commissioned to contribute works were such Italians as Titian, Tintoretto, Cambiaso, Federico Zuccaro, and Pelegrino Tibaldi, and Spaniards Navarrete "El Mudo," Alonso Sanchez Coello, and Luis de Carvajal. The Milanese, Leone and Pompeo Leoni, struggled against formidable odds to create some of the most impressive bronze sculpture of the late Renaissance.
Challenging some of the current views that argue for a definable Counter-Reformation style, The Decoration of the Royal Basilica of El Escorial also raises important questions regarding Philip II's patronage practices, particularly his requirements for religious art and the extent to which they were met by artists.

Resources:
Table of contents
Table of contents
Publisher description

ISBN:

0521413443 (hardback)
9780521413442 (hardback)

Subject:

Philip II, King of Spain, 1527-1598 Art patronage.
Philippe II, roi d'Espagne, 1527-1598 Mécénat.
Philip II, King of Spain, 1527-1598
Philipp II. Spanien, König 1527-1598
Philippe II (roi d'Espagne ; 1527-1598) Mécénat.
Basílica (Escorial)
Basílica del Escorial (San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Espagne)
Kloster El Escorial
KunstWerk
Monasterio de El Escorial.
El Escorial Kloster.
Christian art and symbolism Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial Modern period, 1500-
Art, Renaissance Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial.
Art, Spanish Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial.
Art, Italian Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial.
Counter-Reformation in art.
Church decoration and ornament Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial History 16th century.
Art chrétien Espagne San Lorenzo de El Escorial 1450-1600 (Renaissance)
Art de la Renaissance Espagne San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Art espagnol Espagne San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Art italien Espagne San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Contre-Réforme dans l'art.
Églises Décoration et ornement Espagne San Lorenzo de El Escorial Histoire 16e siècle.
Art, Italian
Art patronage
Art, Renaissance
Art, Spanish
Christian art and symbolism Modern period
Church decoration and ornament
Kunst
Kerkinterieurs.
Versieringskunst.
El Escorial.
Art, Italian Spain San Lorenzo de el Escorial.
Counter-Reformation in art Spain.
Art chrétien Espagne 16e siècle.
Églises Décoration Espagne 16e siècle.
Art de la Renaissance Espagne Monasterio de El Escorial.
Art Espagne Espagne San Lorenzo del Escorial.
Spain San Lorenzo del Escorial
Basilika El Escorial
El Escorial Klosterkirche.
Visual arts Special subjects Christianity
Madrid (Spain)
Architecture.

Form/genre:

History

Holdings:

Location: Library main 112181
Call No.: ID N7962.S36.M86; ID:94-B923
Status: Available